Friday, November 30, 2012

Just spotted this awaiting me in the No Fenders mailbox from Lyn St James, the impresario of the Women’s Winners movement;thus, if you’re in Indianapolis and looking for a chance to mingle with a bevy ‘O Motorsports Femme Fatles, then Y’all will wish to check this out...

INDIANAPOLIS– Fox Sports' NASCAR pit reporter and SPEED Channel pre-race show host Krista Voda will serve as Master of Ceremonies of the Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation’s 10th anniversary awards ceremony, founder Lyn St. James announced today.

The annual fundraiser celebrating women in motorsports will be held on Friday, December 7 at the IndianaConvention Center in conjunction with the International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS-Indy). The event begins with a VIP reception at 5 p.m. followed by the awards banquet at 6 p.m.

Reservations for the event are still available for a short time at www.lynstjames.com. Individual seats are $125 and tables of 9 guests are $1000. Attendees who reserve a table will have the honor of a VIP guest sitting in the tenth seat at their table.

For more information about the Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation or the 10th Annual Awards Celebration, visit www.lynstjames.com.

Having forwarded Grizzled ‘Journo Joe Saward’s story Farewell Austin, Body armour on to Austin Bureau Chief ‘Claudio upon my return from Texas, I received the following reply:

Dear Tomaso; A note on the cannon lady. There was no Mexican involvement or the Alamo. she fired the cannon without shot - cannonball - to awaken the residents of Austin to come to the capitol because a large group of white Texans from Houston - a much larger and formidable city compared to tiny Austin - were there before dawn to steal the founding documents of the republic and the original red, white, and blue, lone star flag and establish the "new" state capitol in Houston. It woke the residents who flocked to the capitol grounds and placed the thieves under citizen's arrest. The incident cemented Austin as the permanent site of the republic's capitol...

The woman in question was Angelina Eberly, whom fired a 6lb cannon shot in 1842, alerting townsfolk to Texas Rangers thievery in what has become known as the Texas Archives War, when said documents were attempted being stolen by those dastardly Houstonites...

Thursday, November 29, 2012

I first came about this late yesterday afternoon, not bothering to read the whole story since it was dated Nov 29th and thus a day ahead of Mwah Stateside. Yet the story from Adam Cooper’s F1 blog titledYellow flag controversy casts shadow over championshipdefinitely was most disturbing... Really Scuderia Ferrari? You’d sink to such levels in order to win the driver’s title? I mean if the rumours are true that la Scuderia will pay Fredrico Suave$10m bonus - then obviously Alonso would be salivating over this... But, C’mon Maranello - Get Over It! You were beaten by the German ‘Wunderkin Master ‘Zebb and this would be a very tawdry & despicable way to win the drivers crown over Sebastian Vettel who rightly should be the 2012 world champion!

Thus fortunately, for the sports sake, the FIA has reacted swiftly upon this trumped up controversy by quickly announcing publicly there is NO foul regarding Vettel’s pass over “B-team” driver Jean-Eric Vergne, and henceforth Sebastian is still the 2012 F1 Driver’s world champion...

Otay, hopefully Y’all watched the race last Sunday, as your humble scribe dutifully got up “Justin-time” to watch the 7:30AM Pacific Pre-race festivities via the NoFendersville “lounge.” And I cannot describe it any better than an absolutely nail biting race; shades ‘O Brazil ’08, as I’d originally feared that Master ‘Zebb had done the unthinkable and thrown his championship away with his boneheaded collision with native son Bruno Senna on lap-1... Simply in shock, I almost turned thee ‘Telie off in disgust, but kept watching instead, as it felt a little bit like déjà vu once again a la Fontana’s IndyCar finale - as Fredrico suave (Alonso) still needed to finish third or better to assume the points lead.

Yet surprisingly Sebastian Vettel’s car, while damaged, was still fully functional and the German quickly motored his way back towards the front of the grid, while I must admit I was rootin’ for thee Incredible Hulkster to win the race instead! As it would have been great for Nico Hulkenberg to win his debutant Grand Prix when all attention was focused upon two other Germans instead, i.e.; Vettel and some cat known here as DER TERMINATOR, nee Michael Schumacher who was retiring for good this time after a less then impressive three year stint at Mercedes.

And as we all know, the race was a real donnybrook, with ultimately ‘JENSE (Jenson Button) playing the role of spoiler and preventing Alonso from the championship - as the entertaining trivial fact that Fernando’s now lost more titles then he’s won; having lost the championship in the final race three times: 2007, 2010 & 2012, all in the final race was divulged by SPEED’s “StatRatt.” While der Wunderkin Vettel reigned supreme again and claimed his third consecutive title by a scant three points...

Yet there was another title fight of sorts going on way down the order involving Marussia v Caterham for the all important tenth and final paying position in the Constructors championship, which Caterham snatched courtesy of Vitaly ‘VO5 Petrov’s 11th place finish, one position ahead of rookie Charles Pic - thus stealing the position away from Marussia, who are heavily in debt in the season’s final race. As it’ll be ultra ironic if ‘KOVY (Heikki Kovalainen) keeps his Caterham race seat thanks largely to Petrov’s 11th place finish. Although I’m still a bit puzzled over the hurriedness to eject the ‘Rooskie with the Russian Grand Prix on the horizon. Hmm? Perhaps Hispania could take a flyer with Vitaly while hopefully keeping the team open next year and thru 2014?

While there are several driver moves afloat, I’d simply like to bask in the afterglow of a most mesmerizing race and fantastic F1 season; while I’m also thrilled that Felipe Massa rightfully finished on the podium in his home race, especially after A-L-L of the shenanigans la Scuderia has made him endure this season and the past few years - being forced to play the dutiful role of a number-2 driver. Fernando, Vettel is FASTER than you again, can you confirm that please; Hya!

Ok, so this has been out for awhile, albeit I missed the ‘Offical news release whilst in Austin, Texas - over how Bob Varsha will end his 23-year association with fellow broadcaster ‘Hobbo, aka David Hobbs... As apparently Varsha still has one year remaining upon his SPEED TV contract and hence, will be staying at the ‘RASSCAR Shopping Network, while ‘Hobbo, Professor (Steve) Matchett and “Willie Buxom” (Will Buxton) migrate over to NBC/NBC Sports Network - with Leigh Diffey taking over Varsha’s role at the Peacock next year. As I still cannot figure out if this is just SPEED spiteing the loss of F1 to NBC or if comca$t are being extreme tightwads and didn’t wish to buy out Varsha’s final year? Or may be? Just may be Messer Varsha simply wishes for a change? As we’ll definitely miss the smooth non-plussed leadership of Varsha at the helm of the Formula 1 broadcasts next year...

Yet, I must say I became quite miffed over Dave First’s USA-USA-USA! Taunts on Autosport Radio Tuesday night of how could NBC - which just so happens to be his competitor’s network, as First works for the local ABC affiliate; controversy intended, huh? Prattle on ‘bout having a DAMN foreigner, aka Leigh Diffeycalling the vaunted IndyCar races next year might ‘Cornfuze casual television observers into thinking they’ve run into the Formula 1 broadcast instead; SHEISA! As get over yourself Mr. First, as I for one think Diffey’s a great announcer.

And perhaps this is Indy Cars problema of not being able to differentiate themselves from the pack? Albeit I dare say the DW12 replete with Kardashian humps upon its rear flanks looks anything remotely like a current F1 chassis, eh?

But back to Messer Varsha; as perhaps he’ll inherit Diffey’s role as lead announcer of the Grand Am series instead - while there’s still no resolution on SPEED’s future, as interestingly they were running adverts for next January’s Barrett-Jackson auction during the just concluded Brazilian GP, which Varsha also anchors, so who knows what the Bully Boyz at FOX are up to, eh? May be a massive ‘RASSCAR-Fication? Oh Never Mind!

Yet on a positive note, albeit I got a ‘Wee bit tired of hearing it played over the COTA public address loudspeakers ad nausium the entire weekend... Smartly, the fine folks at the Peacock had a commercial promoting the switch of Formula 1 coming to the NBC & NBC Sports Network for 19-races beginning in March, 2013 as part of the track’s commercials...

Not surprisingly - due to the elongated winter slumber Indy Cars is currently ensconced in, a trio of current Brazilian IndyCar drivers have decided to spend part of their vacation in Brazil trying their hands at Stock Car racing; as drivers Rubens Barrichello, Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan will all take part in their home country’s Stock Car series, which according to both ‘TK & Rubino has been a real eye opener and education - as Rubens was heard telling his pit crew via the in-car radio it was complete madness with the number of competitors simply crashing into him!

Monday, November 26, 2012

What a F%%KING unbelievable Brazilian GP! As yes indeedy, Master ‘Zebb has pulled off the unthinkable triple-lutz, en route to becoming the sport’s youngest ever triple world champion at the age of 25, with the young German also becoming only the third ever driver to win the crown three consecutive years in -a-row... As Sebastian Vettel joins the illustrious company of Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher; thee only three drivers to accomplish such a feat in the sports 63-season history...

Naturally, Alexander Rossi was pleased with his outing after making his F1 race weekend debut at Barcelona for Caterham F1. (Source: formula1onlive.com)

First off, I’m still basking in the afterglow of “FormulaOneItus” at Austin, Texas and as always - I’m now playing ‘Ketsup with Der Vurld de Motorsporten; Ja-Ja!! Thus didn’t have time to squeeze in the latest Young Guns outing from Yas Isle preceding Austin. And I notice I managed to skip last year’s Young Drivers testin Abu Dhabi too; not sure why?

Alas, I have now gone back and discovered that this year’s Caterham F1 test driver Alexander Rossi did take part for the then Lotus-Renault team. NO! NOT that Lotus-Renault, but the other Lotus-Renault; you know the one that wasn’t named Lotus Renault GP, which was the former Renault F1 team... Instead Rossi was with the former Lotus F1 Racing Team; Oh Never Mind! EGADS! Aren’t we A-L-L glad that the Loti double entendre thingy is now over!

Thus Rossi is firmly aligned with the Caterham concern, while last year’s test actually saw all three of my future Formula 1 driver picks participating, with Rossi, “thee Young Wicky,” nee Robert Wickens and Esteban Gutierrez all at Abu Dhabi. Wickens drove for both le Reggie (Renault) and Virgin and Gutierrez drove for Sauber.

And remember that the Young Drivers test is only available for drivers who haven’t contested more than two Grand Prix’s in the past two years.

Yet this year’s Young Drivers Test format seems quite amuck, especially since the various F1 Constructors have decided to do their testing at different venues on different dates - having seen tests run at both Silverstone and Magny Cours, marking the return of Formula 1 machinery to France for the first time since 2008.

Hispania, Marussia and Williams participated at a bleakly overcast Silverstone during two days of British summer following the British GP where the first Chinese-born national Ma Qing Hua, 24-years old made history driving a Formula 1 car by running 54-laps for HRT.

Ferrari, Force India and Mercedes took to the track at Magny Cours from 11-13, September, where appropriately native son Jules Bianchi topped the time sheets all three days.

Next up, the remaining Constructors ran at Abu Dhabi from 6-8, November, following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - where Caterham, Lotus, McLaren, Red Bull, Sauber and Scuderia Toro Rosso all took turns running their young charges.

Caterham

Returning for histhird season ending Young Drivers Test was America’s Alexander Rossi who took over from Dutch F1 hopeful Giedo van der Garde on Day-3, after the Dutchman put in considerable testing mileage for the team. As ‘Guido hopes to graduate from GP2 for the team next year on the backing of sponsorship funds, as the team may be seeking two “Pay drivers” if it loses the all important race for tenth place in this year’s Constructor standings...

Lotus

The Enstone based team took the unusual step of running 31-year old Nicolas Prost, son of “The Professor,” aka four time world champion Alain Prost - along with Edoardo Mortara and Davide Valsecchi, the 2012 GP2 champion. With the three drivers running in the same order as listed one day apiece at the test...

McLaren

Was caught totally unawares by the name Kevin Magnussen being at the top of the timesheets for Day-1 in the MP4-27; as yeah, that name should sound familiar, as Kevin’s father is known as ‘MAGS over here in Sports Car land, aka Jan Magnussen, the former F1 and IndyCar driver.

And the Woking based squad was the only outfit to run multiple drivers during each day’s testing, seeing the Dane Magnussen share the first day with Gary Paffett. Then the team’s normal test/reserve drivers Paffett and Oliver Turvey took over for the second day before MAGS’ Junior (Magnussen) returned and completed enough mileage to obtain his FIA Superlicense, with Turvey taking over later in the day...

Red bull

The soon to be triple Constructors champion team ran one of its newest Red Bull Junior Academy piloto’s, Portugal’s Antonio Felix da Costa who came on strong at the end of this year’s World Series by Renault 3.5 series with four victories alongside Rossi at Arden Caterham Motorsports - running the first two days before handing over to Robin Frijns, who seems to be hot property at the moment. While naturally the Adrian Newey designed RB8 was Bullish the entire test...

Sauber

On the first day’s outing, the Himwal based team ran Netherlands Robin Frijns, possibly as a reward for winning this year’s World Series by Renault 3.5 series, although traditionally that prize has been doled out by Renault in years past; as Frijns mentioned how completely knackered he was from the amazing braking forces ofmodern F1 chassis.

Then for the remaining two days, Mexican test driver Esteban Gutierrez kept his Young Drivers testing 100% attendance and took over the squad’s C31-Ferrari; hoping to use the Abu Dhabi test as an audition for Sauber’s second race seat in 2013, now that the team has signed the Incredible Hulk, nee Nico Hulkenberg as Sergio Perez’s replacement...

Toro Rosso

First day testing saw Luiz Razia behind the keyboard of the team’s STR-07 before Venezuela’s Johnny Cecotto Jr took over on Day-2 with Razia returning for Day-3, fever andall!

And like 2010’s results, when ultimately four testers named Jerome D’Ambrosio, Paul di Resta, Pastor Maldonado and Daniel Ricciardo graduated into becoming race drivers, last year’s Young Driver participants saw two more advance - with both being from France. As Jean-Eric Vergne not only topped the timesheets in the all conquering Red Bull RB7, but landed a seat at its ‘lil ‘Seester team Scuderia Toro Rosso. And Charles Pic made his way into the rebranded Virgin Racing squad Marussia with the help of his family’s trucking business.

Returning to this year’s final test session of 2012 are a total of six-drivers, with the likes of: Cecotto Jr., Gutierrez,

Paffett, Razia, Rossi and Turvey all driving at the YasIsland circuit once again, obviously hoping to follow in the footsteps of Vergne and Pic, albeit the latter’s ride seems somewhat in doubt, with Max Chilton’s name being bandied about.

Other possible graduates could be Bianchi at Force India; van der Garde possibly replacing ‘KOVY (Heikke Kovalainen) or Vitaly ‘VO5 Petrov at Caterham, where Pic could wind-up also? While Gutierrez seems a lock for Sauber’s second seat in order to keep the Mexican TelMex connection humming along. Yet the Bianchi Force India connection seems a bit odd to Mwah, as I’d have thought he’d go the Sauberroute due to his Ferrari links and manager being the son of ex-Scuderia boss Jean Todt; as I’d like to see the “Young Wicky” (Robert Wickens) land the seat instead...

Friday, November 23, 2012

As Y’all know, this weekend’s Formula 1 season finale in San Paolo, Brazil will see Master ‘Zebb (Vettel) take a 13-point lead in the Drivers title fight vs. Fredrico Suave, (Alonso) in hopes of becoming only the third driver in F1 history to win three consecutive titles, joining the illustrious annals of Juan Fangio Manuel Fangio and DER TERMINATOR, nee Michael Schumacher - as I for one certainly hope the young German Wunderkin does so, while Red Bull has already clinched its third consecutive Constructors championship crown, joining the elite company of such marques as Ferrari, Williams and McLaren to do so...

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Yep, its ‘Dat time again, ‘Whale almost... As your humble No Fenders scribe should be back from wingin’ his waze ‘Westwards from the Lone Star state “Justin-time for that traditional Yankee Doodle holiday known as Thanksgiving, albeit I’m flashing back to that humourous story about a certain fowl terrorizing the New Jersey turnpike previously when thinkin’ about turkey...

Having heard ‘Ol ‘Scooter, aka Scott Pruett awhile back upon duh Speed Freaks after having won his fifth Grand Am championship, all for his boss thee ‘Cheepster... (Chip Ganassi) And his eleventh title overall; naturally duh Freaks had to ask Pruett when they’d be getting some of his box-wine; Hya!

As Y’all may know, Pruett produces his own vino as a hobby, and apparently even creates championship edition Cuvee’s, whatever the H-E Double Hockey sticks that is? As I’m certainly NO wine conna-sewer; Hya!

Thus, with it being Turkey-lurkey day, I’m planning to enjoy a glass or three of some fine Hedges Chardonnay at thee family gathering tonight, so enjoy Y’all! Or you may wish to sample the wares of some other motorsports figures listed below...

So we’ve hopefully moved along from our long grieving process over the utterly SENSELESS death of Dannyboy ‘SPIKE Wheldon to which I penned the following story below one year ago... As I watched this year’s Sepang Moto GP race where the riders rightly paid tribute to fallen rider Marco Simoncelli...

Yet as I scribbled last year, lets not forget to remember the other fallen OWR pilots of years past, as they too died doing what they loved best - and their memories shouldn’t be forgotten alongside the B-I-G names usually bantered about...

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Although this topic has come ‘N gone over the years, for reasons unknown, its reared its UGLY head once again for Mwah after hearing Connor Daily on that ‘lil Autosport Radio Show awhile ago... As I’ve truly never grasped this concept upon having been thru the lack ‘O Yank drivers during my F1 Odyssey.

The first American driver I saw in formula 1 action via the ‘Telie was a dude named Eddie Cheever, whom I’ve really never-ever been a fan of, as Eddie was then behind the wheel of those midfield Arrows team’s A10-chasis powered by the warmed over BMW re-badged Megatron inline four-cylinder turbo ‘lump; as I’m dating myself here - having begun following F1 two-plus years before the turbo-era had ended...

Cheever was in his final year of F1 when I attended my debutant Grand Prix, the 1989 Iceberg GP in Phoenix, Arizona, where Eddie was now piloting the team’s A11-chassis propelled by the ubiquitous Cosworth; now in 3.5-liter DFR V-8 guise, a descendant of the all conquering DFV power-plant alongside Derrick Warwick, under USFG title sponsorship. Ironically the Phoenix born racer would finish third that day, probably his final podium placing in Formula 1.

Yet I can still vividly recall being moreenthralled by the machinery then the drivers back then - as I’ve still got the Ivan Capelli Leyton House March 881-Judd poster on my wall, along with being overly enamoured by laScuderia, (Ferrari) McLaren, the Benetton Fords and “Stevie Johnson’s” (Stefan Johansson) Onyx.

Then it would be a further four years until Mikey Andretti made his mostly unforgettable one-season foray into Formula 1 as Ayrton Senna’s sidekick at the struggling McLaren outfit; which I say struggling in the sense that they’d just gone thru the most impressive run of seven (Drivers) championships between 1984-86, 1988-91 - and was trying to re-establish itself after losing its Honda factory engine links at the end of the ’92 season.

Unfortunately Andretti had decided to pursue a Formula 1 career the year the team had opted at the last moment for Customer Ford HB V-8’s, as I recall rooting for Benetton, then the “Works” Ford team to beat McLaren; as how daunting must it have been for the rookie to have the almighty Ayrton (Senna) as his team leader?

As Mikey’s best result would be podiuming at Monza, Italy before returning to the sanctuary of IndyCar racing for ‘Cheep Ganassi’s fledgling CART team...

Andretti would garner victory for Ganassi in his first race outing, for the ‘Cheepster along with scoring Reynard’s debutant IndyCar victory in its inaugural event at Surfers Paradise, Australia. Remember when CART contested fantastic events upon the Gold Coast where the Sheila’s are legendary? Just ask ‘TAG ‘bout that, eh? Can you say Bronte?

Then it would be a further twelve-years until an unlikely driver named Scott Speed became the third US driver to crack the F1 grid with his arrival at Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2006, as the Californian was part of the Red bull drivers search scheme that was spearheaded by ‘Ol Hollywood, aka Danny Sullivan. As Speed would last just 18-months before getting his ticket punched by Red Bull’s head rodeo clown Helmut Marco...

Thus I find it somewhat overrated that we truly need a ‘Yank in F1? As I’ve been thru two longish spells when we didn’t even have a Grand Prix; 1992-99 and 2008-11, which makes it seem even funnier that we were originally slated to have two Grand Prix’s in 2013, albeit not the first time, since we used to have a USGP West & East for several years at Long Beach and Watkins Glen.

And I’d hazard a guess that it was a different era way back in the 1970’s when the US saw only its second ever world champion crowned, as Mario Andretti is undoubtedly America’s finest Formula 1 driver, although Dan Gurney who proceeded him was highly ranked by the legendary Flying Scot Jimmy Clark... While many here stateside consider Mario the finest driver ever due to his unquestionable winning diversity; as Mario scored twelve Grand Prix victories over his Formula 1 career which spanned from 1968 to 1982, albeit taking multiple breaks between his early years to focus upon his IndyCar career - driving for the likes of Lotus, March, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Williams; with multiple stints at Lotus and Ferrari.

Mario first tasted the champagne in 1971 upon Kyalami’s top podium step on his debut at Scuderia Ferrari, with his final F1 victory coming in the 1978 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.

Andretti’s final two Formula 1 races at the remarkable age of 42 were for his home country and every driver’s dream, la Scuderia (Ferrari) as he was called into action by enzo to help fill the void left by the death of Gilles Villeneuve and the injured Didier Pironi. As ironically Mario finished his F1 career 30-years ago this September aboard the Ferrari 126 C2, an evolution of la Scuderia’s first ever Turbocar, the 126 C.

Mario made his swan song by electrifying the Tiafosi at Monza, Italy by taking Pole and then finishing third; giving Scuderia Ferrari a 2-3 finish with Patrick Tambay finishing ahead of the upstart American. Yet Mario’s final race was far more sober - at the much unloved Caesar’s Palace parking lot course in Las Vegas, where Mario’s rear suspension failed on lap-26; as the torch was passed to Ferrari’s next great hope Michele Alboreto - who won his debutant Grand Prix victory for Tyrrell there.

As you could arguably claim Mario’s leaving for CART and Newman Haas Racing was the closing of a chapter in Yanks racing in Formula1, as none have been victorious since - not to mention being relatively unheralded with the exception of Mario’s son Michael eleven years later.

And I know I’m probably going to garner a ration of SHIT for saying this, but; What The Fuck was all of that BULLSHIT of Ryan Hunter-reay wrapping himself in the stars ‘N stripes after winning the vaunted IndyCar crown at Fontana this year? As note to RHR, where’d that get Yuhs, and have you seen how much you’re in the headlines recently? Or is there some sort of cancerous pandemic occurring in the land of American Open Wheel Racing right now instead...

As Randy “the CandyMann” may have gotten many things wrong, but; I certainly agree with his stance that we just want to see the best drivers in the world compete, period, zip, nada, end of story... Which I’d also argue is the basis of thee pinnacle of motorsport called Formula 1, albeit many drivers come to the series aided by their ability to garner huge amounts of dinero, a la Venezuela’s Pastor Maldonado. Yet I highly doubt that the other 23-drivers simply pulled over for the 2010 GP2 champion to win from pole at Barcelona this year; but I digress...

And how does Formula 1 seriously intend to conquer the almighty 869lb Gorilla called ‘RASSSCAR with this type of ineptitude currently overflowing in America?

Thus by my very unscientific accounting, in the past decade, there have been a total of seven Americans to sample F1 machinery during a race weekend or “proper” test session or straightline Aero test: Sarah Fisher, Bryan Herta, Townsend Bell, Marco Andretti, J.R. Hildebrand, Alexander Rossi and Conor Daily; as I’ve skipped Graham Rahal’s demonstration runs at the Consumer Electronics Show. While one lone Yank named Scott Speed actually contested Formula 1, albeit at the back end of the grid with the neutered Toro Rosso 3.0-liter Cosworth V-10.

And how many of those drivers were given chances solely to try pumping up the craving for F1 in America?

As currently our most poised Americano to potentially land himself a Formula 1 ride, albeit I’d say a slim chance is AlexanderRossi, currently one of Caterham F1’s test & reserve drivers - who’s the first Yank to drive an F1 carduring a Grand Prix weekend since the departed Speed, when Rossi deputized for Heikke Kovalainen in Free Practise-1 at the Spanish GP this year. As Rossi’s just one of three American’s to ever contest a GP2 race, which at the moment is the pre-eminent feeder series into Formula 1, while having spent 2012 competing in the World Series Renault 3.5-liter series for Arden Caterham Motorsports.

Jake Rosenzweig is the most current “American” to contest a GP2 event, having substituted for the Adax Team’s Joseph Krall at this year’s season finale in Monza, Italy, as Rosenzweig was apparently born in London, albeitcompetes under a U.S. license. Yet how many people have ever heard of the name Rosenzweig? As his chances of graduating to Formula 1 seem even less remote...

And then there’s the upcoming Noblesville, Indiana native Conor Daly, son of the ‘legendous Derrick Daly, an ex-Formula 1 and IndyCar driver turned TV Pundit - best known for his reverent “Grandma, put down the Whiskey bottle” comment as a Champ Car colour commentator...

Conor is apparently chasing his dreams of becoming a future Gran Primo Piloto, which obviously I can only commend him upon, as he blitzed the Star Mazda field en route to the 2010 title by setting a record nine poles and seven wins. He then made the jump up to Indy Lights for three races with Sam Schmidt Motorsports and won at Long Beach - before zooming off to Europe to contest the inaugural ’11 GP3 championship, ironically won by Mexico’s Esteban Gutierrez.

Conor then contested his sophomore GP3 season, this year with the Lotus GP concern; NO relation to Lotus F1 - which is a subject for a different day, eh?

Conor won the sprint race at Barcelona, before undoubtedly grabbing more headline space by his horrific looking “Blowover” shunt at Monaco. As ironically his father garnered much press by crashing mightily aboard his Tyrrell also in the Principality...

Daly subsequently has won the opening round of the MRF Challenge Series at the Buddh International Circuit in India, during the Indian Grand Prix weekend, presumably a support race?

As Derrick let us in on a ‘lil secret prior to that by telling those of us listening to Autosport Radio that his son was currently in Barcelona testing a WSR 3.5 machine for two days in hopes of securing a drive in the feeder series for 2013, which perhaps you’ve heard of the likes of Fernando Alonso, Robert Kubica, Justin Wilson, Sebastian Vettel and Kovalainen to name just a few drivers who’ve graduated into F1 from its ranks...

Do I want Conor to succeed? Naturally, of course - but I’m not going to hold my breath, as first he needs to elevate himself to the unheralded ranks of test/reserve driver; what I affectionately label as glorified Simulator ‘Jockeys these days, as I wouldn’t be surprised to see Rossi running another FP1 session in Austin this weekend. Yet Hell! If we’re gonna get carried away on the jingoism of nation building; U-S-A U-S-A U-S-A! Then it seems it would make sense for Mercedes to roll out Oh ‘KanaDuh’s Robert Wickens, nee thee Young ‘Wicky along with Sauber runningGutierrez alongside Sergio Perez in order to give both America’s four future Grand Prix stars to salivate over.

Or does it really matter in the grand scheme ofthings? As after all isn’t it simply ‘RASSCAR or BUST for the majority of American racing fans?

Hey racing fans, your humble No Fenders scribe is off for a well deserved week’s break en route to Austin, Texas for their inauguralFormula 1 race, which will hopefully be a real humdinger - with Master ‘Zebb, nee Seb Vettel clinching his third consecutive World Championship; Ja Volt!

As I feel a bit like what A.J. Allmendinger said recently upon Speed Freaks, in what I thought was a wonderful interview; as A.J. stated how ‘RASSCAR had started to consume his life and it wasn’t any fun anymore! As I’m NOT saying this ‘lil ‘BLOB thingy isn’t any fun; BUTT! I definitely feel like its been consuming my life lately...

And thus I’m gonna take a breather by going to TEX-ARSE to ‘Hang with Bonnie ‘N Clyde; inside Japan joke - as some entertaining Japanese girls asked us where’s Bonnie all those years ago; Hya! Err, Clyde & Nelie and then enjoy some fowl upon Turkey-lurkey day before finishing out the resta duh year here at No Fenders.

Did that grab Y’all? Nah, nothin’ to do with Tony George’s ‘lil takeover bid thingy or The Captain, aka Roger Penske... Just stumbled across the following story when perusing my nightly news in a story I’d typically not read, yet the karmic whip told me to read I-T Dammit...

The story was about the continuously crumbling state of the staid, current, traditional print mediums, i.e.; magazines & newspapers. To which I cannot say I’m familiar with Variety magazine, but the part of the story that PEAK-ed my interest was the name associated as the buyer of said 107-year old faltering magazine purchased. None other than a one Mr. Jay Penske! Who Y’all may recall as the LOSER who drunkenly PISSED Himself all over some woman’s shoes recently...

Yet, when Jay isn’t busy running away from the ‘Coppers, or managing his ‘lil Dragon Racing IndyCar team, apparently he can be found at the controls of his Santa Monica based Penske Media Corporation (PCM) business, which purchased Hollywood gossip columnist Nikki Finke's Deadline.com in 2009.

No word on how Jay Penske expects to renovate or modernize the magazine’s current format, which he bought for $25-million; Hmm? Makes Yuhs wonder why he couldn’t field two fulltime entries this season, eh? Or was it solely due to the lack of Chevy turbo ‘lumps available? As perhaps le ‘Hamburgular, nee Sebastain Bourdais can run the entire 2013 season wrapped in the smorgasbord of PCM entities, with Variety emblazoned on the Dallara’s sidepods?

Thus with ALL of this media Star power, surely Jay can whip us all up in a frenzy over his racing team, not to mention potential sponsors... Just as long as he doesn’t PISS ‘em off!

Monday, November 12, 2012

I must say I’m not a huge fan ‘O the new miniscule 1.6-liter V-6 single turbo sewing machine engines slated for implementation in 2014...

Although I began my Formula 1 odyssey in the last turbo era, I’ve actually never had the privilege of hearing the banshee wail of a 1,000bhp Honda V-6 twin turbo in anger! Nor a ridiculously boosted four cylinder BMW/Megatron ‘lump, or either the Ferrari & Porsche/TAG V-6 turbos, so I have nothing to draw upon on the F1 side of the ladder in regards to these ultra BAD ARSE 1.5-liter powerplants; while I would definitely contend that the “New & Improved” 2.2-liter V-6 turbocharged IndyCar lumps DON’T sound anywhere’s near as soothing as the ubiquitous 2.65-liter V-8 turbo CART engines...

While the premise seems legit - as in the advancement of motor racing, perhaps even appetizing major automotive manufacturers to re-enter the realm of Formula 1, I’m not sure why we’re being forced to undergo the return to micro-turbocharging again? As is it just me or does anybody else recall the automotive sector going thru the very same cycle 30-years ago, when car makers were forced to downsize and suddenly a proliferation of 4-bangers assaulted us... Can you say Chrysler’s mighty Shelby “badged” GLHS? Y’all know: Goes Like Hell sometimes, sorta...

Yet I find it interesting that Renault has decided to put its Brand Ambassador “Extraordinaire” Alain Prost behind the wheel of a prototype 1.6L V-6 turbo ‘lump, which I’d assume was partially an attempt to draw up support for the new specification motor, not to mention Renault Cars in general...

Meanwhile, in what I’d hasten to assume is a typical plight of the Minnowesqe teams, who spend copious amounts of time scrambling solely for funding - Marussia’s Team Boss has come out decrying the new engine formulae will cripple the little teams like his and endanger the sport from full grids in the future...

Thus I’ll leave it up to Y’all to decide whether or not Formula 1 should proceed to the new 1.6L boosted formulae with new & improved KERS - as I find this all to be the continuous wave of deplorable “Greenwashing!” as I guess I’m a died in the wool PetrolHead, eh?

Otay, so this is slightly dated news, yet nevertheless very good news indeed for those of us O-L-D enough to remember Lola Cars - which once ruled the roost in Open Wheel Racing, having even won the Indy 500 three times, as I’d just ARSE-sumed those Lola Cars was simply gone.

Yet it appears that longtime North American Lola distributor Carl Haas and the ‘Kuhnadiun firm Multimatic have come to the rescue, according to Gordon Kirby.

As I was hoping by the time I posted this story, the formal announcement would have been made, yet alas I cannot find anything besides the good Messer Kirby’s article upon this development.

Thus I’m not sure how this all completely works, since it sounds like Multimatic is taking over the manufacturing aspects; unless they’ll just continue using Lola’s European facilities for efforts abroad? Meanwhile; Hmm? Perhaps Lola could reinvigorate itself by becoming the new Indy Lights chassis supplier? Just a thought...

Sunday, November 11, 2012

For those of you loyal readers or infrequent visitors to the No Fenders site via Internet Explorer browser - you may notice that the No Fenders website layout has changed, asmysteriously I first noticed that the entire sidebar’s links had been moved down to the bottom of the page yesterday; WTF?

As I’m not sureif this has something to do with the SHITHEADZ at Google who’vejust stopped supporting IE8 in there rush to only support the latest & greatest BLEEPING FADS upon le interwoods; can you say P.O.S. w8? As perhaps my 6yr old blog templatehas been discarded by the fine folks at Google...

Anyhow, my faithful ‘Blogmeister Miguel is aware of this nepotism by Google & is investigating the root cause and hopefully will have it all back to Lookin’ Sharp soon! Thank you for your patience...

Friday, November 9, 2012

This story caught my eye, originally noted by Grizzled ‘Journo Joe Saward, the Anglo-Malaysian Caterham concern of Tony Fernandes has announced a new partnership arrangement with Renault automobiles to jointly produce a range of Alpine Sports Cars.

This just seems like another shrewd move by Messer Fernandes, as it potentially gives him access to both of the Renault and Nissan parts bins plus could help establish further business opportunities? Ah, and to think Lotus Cars could have gotten the Midas touch instead, eh?

Meanwhile on the heels of the news of the new Caterham-Alpine alliance, Messer Fernandes first announced he was stepping down as Caterham F1 Team Principal and then subsequently announced that the relatively new team CEO, 35yr old Frenchman Cyril Abiteboul would become the new Team Principal effective immediately...